Z3 Living in France

Mike Fishwick

Zorg Guru (II)
French Zeds
Joined
Sep 23, 2021
Points
109
Location
Daglan, France
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Hello – I am Mike Fishwick, a Brit living in the Dordogne region of France, who has just heard of this site, having been a long-term member of the 'Other' Z3 forum and the BMW Car Club Z Register – both of which are effectively dead!

My Z3 is a 2.8 litre model of 1998 vintage in Hellrot 2 with black leather, which I bought in 2000 with only 13,000 miles. Options are 17” wheels, air conditioning, wind blocker, passenger airbag and cruise control (never used or wanted!). It is well-travelled, but has not seen much use for a few years, so even now only has 130,000 miles on the clock. In this period it has been self-maintained, and has only seen a dealer for its first Inspection 1 and a couple of MoT tests.

It is the most reliable car I have ever owned, and has asked only for the usual oil, plug, and filter changes, and is currently on its second battery. The nearest it has ever been to a code reader is when I reset the fault memory by poking a piece of wire into the diagnostic socket.

It has several modifications, mainly aimed at improving handling, but I will describe these in more detail later.

The Z3 shares space with a VW Golf GT-TDI, bought new in 2000, which has currently covered 236,000 miles, and my BMW R100RS motorcycle, bought new in 1981, which has only covered 85,000 miles, as I fell down and broke a leg rather badly about 25 years ago, and now have enough metal in the leg to build a model of the Forth Bridge!
 
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Paul Rice

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
British Zeds
The M44 Massive
Joined
Sep 7, 2013
Points
198
Location
Doncaster
Model of Z
Z4 2.5
Good to here from you Mike, hope you are keeping well. Much livelier here.
 

Keet

Zorg Guru (IV)
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Apr 22, 2018
Points
171
Location
Mansfield
Model of Z
E89 20i M Sport
Hello and welcome to the forum :thumbsup:
 

Robert Hill

Zorg Guru (III)
Joined
Sep 17, 2018
Points
125
Welcome Mike I have read some of your articles on bmw z3 and it's great to have you here
IMG_20200808_141232.jpg
 

mwpe

Zorg Guru (V)
Supporter
Joined
Dec 8, 2011
Points
178
Location
Camberley
Model of Z
3.0
Hello Mike and :welcome:, I also thought you were a member, I often read tour posts on the other forum but hardly ever visit there now. Zorg is a much friendlier place.
 

MisterP007

German Engineering - Italian Clothes
Supporter
British Zeds
Joined
Jul 24, 2020
Points
144
Location
Tunbridge Wells
Model of Z
Z3 2.8
Hi Mike, great to have you on board, your expertise will be very welcome.
 

petecossie

Zorg Guru (IV)
British Zeds
M Power
Joined
Dec 7, 2011
Points
158
Location
Teesside
Model of Z
Z3 M Coupe
Welcome Mike, like others on here I thought you were already a member on here. This is a very active site with friendly bunch of enthusiasts, I'm sure your knowledge of the Z3 will add something to the knowledge base.
 

Bonzeau

Zorg Guru (I)
British Zeds
Joined
May 1, 2017
Points
95
Location
Aylsham, Norfolk
Model of Z
Z3 2.8 litre Roadster
:welcome: back Mike, your articles, hints and tips have been invaluable to me and I'm sure to others as well.....:scorecard: You should be made an
honourable Guru immediately!

:drinks:

Bonzo.
 

t-tony

The Legend
Deceased
Supporter
#ZedShed
Joined
Dec 31, 2013
Points
226
Location
Torksey Lock,Lincoln, England
Model of Z
E89 Z4 23i Auto
Hello – I am Mike Fishwick, a Brit living in the Dordogne region of France, who has just heard of this site, having been a long-term member of the 'Other' Z3 forum and the BMW Car Club Z Register – both of which are effectively dead!

My Z3 is a 2.8 litre model of 1998 vintage in Hellrot 2 with black leather, which I bought in 2000 with only 13,000 miles. Options are 17” wheels, air conditioning, wind blocker, passenger airbag and cruise control (never used or wanted!). It is well-travelled, but has not seen much use for a few years, so even now only has 130,000 miles on the clock. In this period it has been self-maintained, and has only seen a dealer for its first Inspection 1 and a couple of MoT tests.

It is the most reliable car I have ever owned, and has asked only for the usual oil, plug, and filter changes, and is currently on its second battery. The nearest it has ever been to a code reader is when I reset the fault memory by poking a piece of wire into the diagnostic socket.

It has several modifications, mainly aimed at improving handling, but I will describe these in more detail later.
If you were still over here in the UK, you might not dismiis Cruise Control so easily Mike. There are many "Average Speed" zones here in the UK, CC is a valuable addition to a car these days.

Tony.
 

Peter1450

Zorg Guru (II)
Supporter
Joined
Apr 1, 2018
Points
104
Location
Bristol
Model of Z
Z3 3.0
If you were still over here in the UK, you might not dismiis Cruise Control so easily Mike. There are many "Average Speed" zones here in the UK, CC is a valuable addition to a car these days.

Tony.
Slightly off subject sorry Tony, reference the average speed camera’s, I recently did a journey from Bristol to Cambridge and on both legs regularly get passed by many vehicles (mainly HGV’s), in the 50/60 mph zone between Reading and Heathrow,what to they know that I don’t?
 

Mike Fishwick

Zorg Guru (II)
French Zeds
Joined
Sep 23, 2021
Points
109
Location
Daglan, France
Model of Z
2.8 Roadster
Perhaps their bosses contribute to the Police Benevolent Fund . . .

One of the nice things about driving in France is that so long as you do not exceed the speed limit by more than 20 kph, and do so outside a 50 kph zone, it is regarded as a less serious offence, attracting a discounted fine of 40 Euros (if paid within the month) and one point off your licence (out of 12) which only lasts for a year, if you do not transgress further during that period. Of course, that does not apply to visiting Brits, and currently the Brits cannot pursue me to France!
 
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Mr H

Zorg Addict
British Zeds
Joined
Sep 16, 2021
Points
56
Location
West Sussex
Model of Z
Z3 Roadster 3.0i
Hi Mike from a real Newbie; only had my Z3 for 5 days now and it was all thanks to your article "Z3 General Information for Potential Buyers" on the BMW CC site!!! :thumbsup:
 

Rickypoos

Dedicated Member
French Zeds
Joined
Sep 17, 2021
Points
28
Location
Normandy, France
Model of Z
Z3
Hi Mike
I am another Brit living in France who has just joined - albeit without your clearly outstanding provenance!! Living near Alençon in Basse Normandie. Was wondering how many members on this site live in France and not sure how to sort and find out. Can anyone please advise??
 
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